Sealing closure of limited rotatable adjustment for powder boxes or the like



July 29, 1952 NYDEN ETAL 2,605,028

SEALING CLOSURE OF LIMITED ROTATABLE ADJUSTMENT FOR POWDER BOXES OR THE LIKE Original Filed July 6, 1945 I 1 1111 677102": POBEET HYDE/v H/IEEY A, D/CKEEM/I/Y Patented July 29, 1952 SEALING CLOSURE OF LIMITED RO'TATA- BLE ADJUSTMENT ron rownaa BOXES OR THE LIKE 1 Robert Nyden, Manhasset, and Harry K. Dicker man, Buffalo, N. Y., assignors to F. N. Burt Company, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Original application July 6, 1945, Serial No.

603,418, now Patent No. 2,526,397, dated October 17, 1950. Divided and this application May 28, 1947, Serial No. 750,967

2 Claims. (Cl. 222542) tainers or boxes of the type usually having their improvements in sifter or dispensing closures for containers of this class adapted to dispense the container contents usually in the form of dry powder or comminutecl material, such as cosmetic powders and the like.

It is a general object of the invention to provide for containers of the class mentioned, an improved sifter closure for controlling dispensing of the container contents which, while being capable of manufacture in large quantities by factory methods and at low production costs, is well adapted to make a tight anti-sift sealing closurereadily adjustable into opening and closing positions, and also presenting an attractive appearance appealing to a discriminating class of users. Another object of the invention is to provide for containers of the class mentioned, a dispensing device having an improved attaching means for attaching the parts together in operative position and permitting the parts to be rapidly assembled and permanently maintained in tight anti-sift condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide for containers of the class mentioned, an improved dispensing or sifter closure that can be manufactured in a large degree from non-metallic materials, but also combining metallic and plastic materials which are well adapted for making a tight anti-sift dispensing closure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for containers of the class mentioned, a dispensing closure device with improved means for. attaching the parts thereof togethera'nd for facilitating assembly in placing the parts in correct relative positions so as to speed up production and to avoid errors in assembly.v

Other objects of the invention will be in part pointed out in the following detailed disclosure of certain illustrative but, preferred embodiments of the invention, and will be in part obvious as the disclosure proceeds.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more comprehensive disclosure of the nature, objects and advantages of the invention,

structure more clearly;

reference is had to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a powder" can or container embodying the invention;

Fig. .2 is a top plan view-thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary central vertical section;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section and inverted plan taken substantially on the-line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction ofthe arrows, parts being broken away to disclosethe Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detailed view showing the connection of the plastic rotary cap member with the end closure plate;

Fig. 6 is a central vertical sectional view similar to that of Fig. 3 but showing a modified embodiment of the improved sifter closure;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional and inverted plan view taken substantially on the line 'l--'| of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detailed viewof the embodiment of Figs. 6 and '7 showing the 00111180? tion of the rotary plastic cap member with the head of the container. The invention herein disclosed is fully shown and described in applicants prior application, Serial No..603,4l8, filed July 6, 1945, now U. S. Patent 2,526,397, granted October 17," 1950.

Therefore, this application is a division of the earlier application. Referring to the drawing for a detailed description of the illustrative embodiments of the invention there shown, and first to the preferred embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the improved dispensing closure is illustrated as being applied to a container or powder can having nal, etc. At its bottom end the container is closed by a bottom closure or plate H which maybe of metal and of any well-known preferred structure. The upper end of'the container is fitted with the improved dispensing closure indicated generally at 2.

As best shown inFig s. 3 and 4, theimproved dispensing closure l2 embodies an end plate or wall l3 forming the end or topwall of the containerv and preferably constructed of sheet metal which. may be tinned orotherwise treatedto'prgserted into its final operative position in the endof the container. Since the particular attach merit of the end wall I3 to the body it! of the container does not form a part of the present invention, it is deemed unnecessary to disclose it further herein, and for this reason the present showing of the attachment of the end plate I13 with its skirt flange M to. the body 10, maybe regarded as being merely diagrammatical.

Although the end plate or wall 13 is shown as being of substantially the same size as the end of the body I0, it will be understood that it need not necessarily be so. witha plurality of dispensing openings i which --may be arranged in any desired form for dispreferably extending entirely over the end of 4 the container. The rotary cap member H is also formed with dispensing openings l5 positioned to align respectively with, the dispensing openings l5 of the end plate l3. A peripheral depending skirt flange It. is formed on'the rotary eap-member]? being preferably roughened or serrated on itsouter surface to form a grip conveniently engageableby the operator for turning the cap member into opening and closing positions.- Thisdepending skirt-flange l8 engages closely outside of the upper end of the container body Ill so as to present an attractive finished appearance.

At its inner side the rotary cap member ll isjformed with an integral attaching stem or stub shaft is preferably circular in cross section as shown and engaging in close-fitting rotary bearing relation within the attaching opening I3 "of. the end plate l3. This attaching stem is formed at its basewi th-oppositely disposed integralrenlargements formingstop lugs 28 positioned respectively for reception in the sector-shaped slots 2 I in theend plate 13 and formingoutwardly radially disposed extensions of the central attaching opening [-6. As later more fully described the stop lugs are rotatably reciprocable in the sector-shaped extensionsor slotsll tolimit-opening and closing movement of the rotary cap ,member.

For holding the rotarycap member l l securely in its-assembled relation on the top of the container, an attachingmember .is provided which shown in the form .of anattaching washer 22 preferably of. spring .metal such as spring steel and having one or more integral swingable attaching,,tongues.2 3 deflected downwardlyor in- .wardlyat theunder side of the attachingwashers and having end edge portions provided with sharp corners or points adapted to be imbedded in firm ,securingrelation into the adjacent surface of the plastic attaching stem 19. This This end wall is formed attaching washer may be dished or convexed downwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 3 engaging at its outer rim with the inner surface of the end plate 13' so as toslide thereover when the rotary cap member is rotated to open and close the dispensing openings. The attaching tongues 23 are initially positioned so that the space hetween the free ends thereof is somewhat less than the diameter of the attaching stem I9. Thus when the attaching washer is forced into its 4 normalholding position on the attaching stem the, tongues 123 will be caused to be deflected or swung inwardly slightly on the washer to which they are attached. In this manner the attaching tongues are yieldingly urged, due to their resiliency and that of the washer material, into engaging position against the attaching stem and the free ends are forced against the stem and caused to be imbedded or to bite into the outer surface of the stem thus holding the parts securely togetherin'assembled relation. Any movement intended to separate the parts from this fully assembledposition will cause the ends .ofthe attaching tongues 23 to be imbedded more firmly into the-surface of the plastic stem Land accidental disassembly or loosening of the parts is thus positively resisted and the parts are. maintained permanently in tight anti-sift condition.

Interposed between the end wall or plateiii and the rotary plastic cap member H is asealing disc orwasher 24 preferably of appropriate sealing material such for example as, paperboard, fiberboard or the like. The sealing disc 2-4 is preferablyseated as shown within an appropriate recess formed in the-under side of the rotary pap member H in which recess the disc fits tightly so as tozmake a tight anti-sift joint. Thesealing disc 24 is also provided with dispensing Openings [5' formingextensions respectively of the openings 15' of the cap member [1 and spaced-for alignment respectively with the dispensing openings I5 in the end plate 13. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 5 the sealingdisc hasa centralopening for closely receiving and conforming to the inner or base portion of the attaching stem IS with its opposite extensions 28, thus non-rotatably attaching the sealing disc to the undersur face of the rotary cap member 17 and forming therewith a tight anti-sift joint.

It will'be understood from the foregoing description that the improved dispensing closure not only is simple and inexpensive in constructionand easily assembled and operated, but it forms an eflicient anti-sift structure for preventing accidental sifting of the powder from the container. In order to open or close the dispensing openings the rotary .cap! member I! with its supporting stem 19 may be rotated on the end wall [3 by engagement by the user of the skirt flange [8 which provides a convenient grip for this purpose. It will be seen that the sealing disc 24 is, rotated with the rotary -cap member I! and when the dispensing openings in the cap member have been movedinto aligning position with those in the end plate l3 the integral stop lugs 20 of the cap member will engage in limiting relation with adjacent. edges of the sector openings or slots 2| in the end plate 13. Similarly when the cap member is rotated in the opposite direction to close the d spensing openings, these stop lugs will engage in limiting relation with the opposite edges of the openings M.

In the modified embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, .a one-piece rotary plastic cap structure .is used as in the embodiment above described and other structural feawith the addition of the index a. In this embodiment, however, the top or end wall structure l3a of the container body I lla; is made of paper or i fibrous stock the same as the body Mia and may be attached to the body in any desired wellknown manner and preferably by making it integral with the body as shown in Fig. 6. Since the attachment of the end wall l3a to the body Illa may be of any desired known structure and does notform a part of the present invention except in combination, it is deemed unnecessary to disclose it in detail.

As inthe embodiment first described above, the rotaryQplastic cap structure Ila is provided with an inner integral attaching stem or stub shaft l9a preferably substantially circular in horizontal cross section as shown and provided with one or more exterior longitudinal ribs or lugs 25,

three such ribs being shown spaced substantially 120 apart. These ribs as shown may extend substantially for the full length of the attaching stem [9a, which, as best shown in Fig. 8, is received within the central attaching opening Ilia in the end wall l3a, said opening being provided with cutaway marginal slots or seats 26 adapted respectively to receive the ribs or stop lugs 25 to limit rotative movements of the rotary cap member Ha. The slots or seats 2% are each of a length to permit sufllcient amplitude of rotation in one direction of the cap member to position the same for dispensing the container contents when the dispensing openings I50 of the rotary cap member [7a. are respectively aligned with the dispensing openings [a. of the end wall ida. When the rotary cap member is rotated in the opposite direction, the stop lugs contact with the opposite ends of the seats 26 to check rotation when the dispensing openings in the cap member and end wall are disaligned in closing position.

An inner separate attaching washer 21 preferably of spring metal or the like is employed as shown in Figs. 6 and '7 being provided with integral attaching tongues 28 similar to the attaching tongues 23 above described and being defiectable inwardly and engageable at their inner free ends in securing relation with the attaching stem substantially as described above in connection with the attaching washer 22. However, in this embodiment there is a series of attaching tongues 28 extending substantially around the inner opening of the attaching washer 21 and formed by cutting small radial slots 29 in the washer. Also, the washer is formed at the margin of its central receiving opening with three seats or pockets 30 spaced for respectivel receiving the limiting ribs or lugs 25 of the attaching stem whereby the washer is constrained to rotate with the stem and the cap member I la. In this embodiment the attaching washer 2T preferably has a flat inner surface engaging in close sealing relation with the inner surface of the end wall or head l3a so as to make a tight joint and to improve the anti-sift qualities. The sealing and attaching washer 21 is also formed with dispensing openings I500 respectively aligning with the dispensing openings iSa; of the rotary cap member I la.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the rotar cap member l'la may be rotated by grasping the skirt flange 18a so as to bring the dispensing openings Ilia in the cap member and sealing washer 21 into alignment '6 respectively with the dispensing openings of the end wall or head l3a as shown in Fig. 6. "In this dispensing position the rotative movement of the rotary cap member Ila will be checked by engagement of the stop lugs or ribs 25 with the respective adjacent ends of the slots 26 of the end wall, Similarly when the rotary cap member Ila is rotated in the opposite direction to close the dispensing opening, the movement will be checked by engagement of the ribs 25 with the opposite terminals of the slots 25 when the closure is insealed closing position. r

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having thus been fully described, I

the following is claimed:

1. In a container closure, in combination, a wall portion having a dispensing opening and having receiving a sealing member, said attaching opening having a plurality of extension openings radially outwardly offset from said bearing surfaces and spaced apart circumferentially and respectively positioned between said curved bearing surfaces, said rotary stub shaft having a plurality of curved peripheral bearing surfaces circumfercntially spaced apart and rotatably engaging in supporting relation respectively with said first mentioned bearing surfaces, limiting lugs spaced apart on said stub shaft and extending radially outwardly therefrom respectively into said olfset extension openings to limit opening and closing movements of said cap member, an attaching member engaging said stub shaft inside of said wall portion for holding the parts in assembled relation, and a sealing member surrounding said stub shaft and seated in said recess in the underside of said cap member between said Wall portion and said rotary cap member and having a dispensing opening positioned for alignment with said first mentioned dispensing opening, said sealing member being engaged by said limiting lugs of said stub shaft for causing rotation of the sealing member with rotation of said cap member.

2. In a container closure, in combination, a wall portion having one or more dispensing openings and having an attaching opening disposed centrally thereof, said opening being substantially butterfly shaped having oppositely disposed circular arcs of identical relatively small radii of curvature and intervening alternating oppositely disposed arcs of considerably greater radius of curvature, the adjacent ends of the adjoining arcs of diiferent curvature being connected by radially extending edges substantially defining truncated sectors and completing the peculiar configuration of the attaching opening; a dispensing controlling structure mounted on said 7 wall portion, said structure comprising a rotary cap member rotatable for opening and closing movements and having one or more dispensing openings positioned for alignment respectively with said first mentioned. dispensing openings, an attaching post depending centrally from said cap member, extending through said attaching opening and functioning as a rotary stub shaft; said post having a. cross-sectional configuration adjacent the plane of the attaching opening in said wall which comprises two oppositely disposed circulararcs of identical small radii of curvature, said radii beingsubstanti-ally the same as those of the arcs of said attaching opening so as to provide snug bearing surfaces between the post and the opening, said adjacent post crosssection also comprising two diametrically extending projections Which are appreciably narrower circumferentially than the truncated sector areas of the opening, and terminating radially short of the outer greater arcs of the opening, whereby the inner smaller arcuate edges of the post and the opening comprise the sole bearing surfaces and whereby the post projectionscomprise stop elements having limited movement within the truncated sector areas of the opening; and a locking element securing said post against axial movement in said opening.

ROBERT NYDEN.

HARRY K. DICKERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

